‘A good shepherd with a big heart’: Belgian clergy and politicians on death of Pope Francis
Politicians, academics and clergy in Belgium have responded to the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The news was announced on the morning of Easter Monday by the Vatican.
Prime minister Bart De Wever paid tribute in Latin. “Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Pax et Bonum,” he posted on X.
Translated as “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him,” the words come from the requiem, or a mass dedicated to the deceased. “Pax et Bonum” (“peace and good”) refers to the motto of the Franciscans, from whom Francis took his name.
Archbishop Luc Terlinden reacted emotionally to the news. “He was a good shepherd with a big heart. I am happy to have been able to meet him,” he said at a press conference in Mechelen.
Terlinden, the president of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, praised the Pope’s commitment to peace, describing him as a good shepherd with a big heart and a man of great simplicity, who also left his mark on the Belgian Church.
Francis visited Belgium in September 2024, a visit that was overshadowed by the issue of sexual abuse in the Church.
“During his visit to our country, he took a lot of time to meet with victims of sexual violence and listen to them,” he said. “This was a sign for us, as the Belgian Church, encouraging us to strengthen our policy to combat sexual violence within the Church.”
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde reacted via the Royal Palace's X account, saying they had learned "with great sadness" of the death of Pope Francis. "He was a great man, close to the most humble and concerned about the problems of the world," they said.
"We share the grief of all Catholics around the world and all those who loved and appreciated him. We also express our gratitude for the honour he bestowed on us by visiting our country."
The Church has lost a charismatic and unifying leader who will go down in history as a slow reformer with a powerful social agenda, according to Luc Sels, rector of KU Leuven.
“In Western society, more and more people are seeking solace in religion and meaning, while the Church as an institution is under great pressure,” he said.
“We experienced this complexity first-hand during his visit to KU Leuven in September 2024. Some of his statements were met with criticism and division.”
"Our Pope has departed on his final journey as a pilgrim of hope"
A Eucharistic celebration will be held at 19.00 on Thursday to commemorate Pope Francis at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, Brussels. Archbishop Terlinden will preside, in concelebration with the other Belgian bishops.
A book of condolence will be opened in every cathedral in the country and the bishops' conference is asking that flags be flown at half-mast on all church buildings.
'Great respect'
Many other Belgian politicians reacted to the news of the Pope's death. Deputy PM Jan Jambon of N-VA called the Pope’s passing “a great loss for the Church and for the world”.
“Great respect for this wise man who led in very difficult circumstances,” he wrote on Instagram. He also thanked Francis for coming to Belgium last year to celebrate the 600th anniversary of KU Leuven.
“Yesterday he brought us his Easter message of peace, today our Pope has departed on his final journey as a pilgrim of hope,” said Justice minister Annelies Verlinden of CD&V. “We will continue his journey.”
#FlandersNewsService | © A photo of Pope Francis in St John's Archcathedral in Warsaw, 21 April 2025 © PHOTO WOJTEK RADWANSKI / AFP
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